"Taking advantage of opportunities, Vietnam will rise strongly on the technology map"

(Dan Tri) - Many technology investment policies stated in Resolution 57 of the Politburo are strong and strategic steps, demonstrating Vietnam's determination to utilize technological power for development.

This view was shared by Associate Professor, Dr., National Assembly delegate Nguyen Ngoc Son (Standing member of the Committee on Science , Technology and Environment) in an interview with Dan Tri reporter. With the Politburo issuing a Resolution on technology development, according to delegate Son, if taking advantage of the opportunity, Vietnam can rise strongly on the global technology map.

The Politburo has just issued Resolution No. 57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. What is the significance of the Resolution in the current development context of Vietnam, sir? - In the current development context of Vietnam, Resolution 57 is not only a strategy but also a strong commitment of the Party and State to make science, technology, innovation and digital transformation the main pillars of the country's development. The Resolution is therefore extremely important. Resolution 57 first of all meets the requirements of the digital transformation era and the 4.0 industrial revolution. In the context of the world changing dramatically thanks to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things, Vietnam needs to take advantage of this opportunity to rise up. This is a strategic orientation, affirming the role of science, technology and innovation as the main driving forces for economic growth and enhancing national competitiveness.

This Resolution is the basis for creating momentum for knowledge-based economic development based on science, technology and innovation, with the goal of promoting high-value economic sectors, reducing dependence on cheap labor and resource exploitation. Resolution 57 is also expected to contribute to improving national competitiveness. In the region and in the world , countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Japan have all achieved success thanks to policies on developing science, technology and innovation. With this Resolution, Vietnam shows its determination to catch up with this trend, thereby increasing competitiveness, attracting foreign investment and developing high-quality human resources. The Resolution of the Politburo also promotes comprehensive digital transformation, which is the key to improving the effectiveness of State management, increasing labor productivity and creating new business models. In addition, this resolution creates a foundation for Vietnam to develop advanced defense technologies and ensure cyber security in the context of increasing non-traditional security challenges; strengthen international connectivity and deep integration. With the support of Resolution No. 57, Vietnam has the opportunity to build scientific and technological cooperation relationships with developed countries, participate more deeply in the global value chain and international innovation initiatives. The resolution clearly states that the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation is a decisive factor in the development of countries; it is a prerequisite for Vietnam to develop richly and powerfully in the new era, but in reality, the speed and breakthrough in the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation are slow, still far behind developed countries. In your opinion, why is it that despite our attention and many policies, the development of science and technology has not been as expected? - The development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in Vietnam has not met expectations despite attention and policies, stemming from many reasons, both subjective and objective. First of all, it is due to limited resources when we have not invested strongly enough. Although the budget for science and technology has increased, the actual expenditure ratio is still too low compared to the provisions of the Law on Science and Technology. The expenditure level compared to GDP is still low compared to developed countries, and socialized capital sources have not been mobilized effectively. Lack of high-quality human resources is also a cause. In fact, the number of leading scientists and experts is still small; the remuneration mechanism is not attractive enough to attract domestic and foreign talents.

Meanwhile, the management system, policies and mechanisms still have many shortcomings. Policies to encourage research and application are inconsistent, unfeasible and difficult to access; the approval process for science and technology projects is often complicated and time-consuming. Therefore, enterprises - an important factor in innovation - have not been encouraged to participate strongly in research and development activities. Limitations in practical application also cause science and technology development to fall short of expectations. In fact, the connection between research and production is still weak. Scientific research results are often difficult to commercialize or do not meet market needs. The unsynchronized technology platform, national database and innovation ecosystem are also factors that hinder comprehensive digital transformation, leading to a lack of digital infrastructure. In addition, social psychology and cultural environment have not been given attention. Innovation has not been prioritized. Many businesses and organizations still pursue short-term goals, paying little attention to investing in research and development, especially basic, long-term research. In particular, we still have a fear and risk-aversion mentality. The culture of innovation requires acceptance of failure, but the "fear of mistakes" mentality is still common, leading to few breakthroughs. Another part is due to external influences when we depend on imported technology. In fact, Vietnam has not been proactive in developing core technology but mainly imports, leading to a lack of motivation to develop domestic technology.

Falling behind in technology will certainly mean being left behind. Compared to many countries, Vietnam's technology sector is moving slowly, lagging behind for quite a while. What do you think we need to do to catch up, move forward quickly, and not miss the technology train in the general development rhythm of the world? - Keeping up with the pace of technology development does not only depend on the Government but requires the active participation of the whole society. If we take advantage of the opportunity, Vietnam can not only catch up but also rise strongly on the global technology map. For Vietnam to catch up and move forward quickly on this journey, it is necessary to invest heavily in technologyeducation and training; focus on developing high-quality human resources in the technology sector.

In addition, we can innovate education from primary to university levels, focusing on training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); encourage links between universities and businesses to train human resources close to reality. Another solution is to build an innovation ecosystem; create conditions for technology startups to develop, support capital, policies and infrastructure; establish many modern technology research and development (R&D) centers, attract domestic and foreign experts to participate. We also need to attract investment and technology transfer; open up more to attract foreign investment in high-tech industries, and at the same time require technology transfer; strengthen international cooperation with developed countries, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), Blockchain, renewable energy and green technology. Information technology infrastructure needs to be improved by investing in upgrading digital infrastructure, especially 5G networks, big data and cloud computing; developing high-tech industrial parks, creating a foundation for domestic technology enterprises to develop. Issuing policies to support enterprises in researching and applying new technologies; simplifying administrative procedures, encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to transform digitally, and enhancing education on the importance of technology and digital transformation, from people to businesses... are also necessary tasks. In particular, we need to invest in developing key areas where Vietnam has the potential to lead such as AI, fintech, agricultural technology (agritech) or educational technology (edtech)..., and focus resources on developing these areas to create differences and competitive advantages.

Resolution 57 states that 2% of GDP will be allocated for research and development, 3% of the national budget for innovation, science and technology and digital transformation; striving to bring Vietnam into the top 3 in Southeast Asia and the top 50 in the world in terms of digital competitiveness by 2030. These are very specific figures in this resolution. What do you think about the impact of these investment figures on technology? - This investment is a strong and highly strategic step, demonstrating Vietnam's determination to leverage the power of technology to promote economic development, enhance national competitiveness, and integrate more deeply into the global value chain. If implemented properly, these investment figures will be a new "growth engine" for Vietnam, making technology a focus of development in the next decade. First of all, this can promote the innovation ecosystem. Investing heavily in R&D and science and technology will create a favorable environment for technology startups and large enterprises to innovate products and processes. This will not only attract domestic investment but also from foreign technology corporations. With 3% of the budget for digital transformation, state agencies and enterprises will have more resources to modernize infrastructure and apply new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This will help Vietnam quickly catch up with leading countries in the region in the digital economy.

More investment will help develop high-tech human resources because investment in research and innovation requires a high-quality workforce, promoting the education system to innovate to meet the demand. Increasing national competitiveness is also what we aim for when investing in technology. Vietnam aims to be in the top 3 in Southeast Asia and the top 50 in the world in digital competitiveness by 2030. Adequate investment resources will help us attract more high-tech investment projects and become a regional technology research and production center. In addition, investment also promotes sustainable GDP growth, because investment in R&D and technology not only creates high added value for products, but also helps Vietnam avoid the middle-income trap, building a knowledge-based economy instead of cheap labor.

Among the solutions proposed by the Politburo are accepting risks, risky investments and delays in scientific research, technology development, and innovation; having a policy of exemption from liability in cases where testing new technologies causes economic damage due to objective reasons. According to him, how can we promote this policy in the context where we are still complaining a lot about the fear of responsibility, not daring to think, not daring to do? - To promote this policy in the context of "fear of responsibility, not daring to think, not daring to do," there must be synchronous solutions from thinking to specific actions. The policy of encouraging innovation not only requires determination from the Government but also consensus from businesses, people, and especially transparency and fairness in implementation. First of all, we need to change the mindset and management culture by encouraging the spirit of innovation; building a political and social environment where managers and businesses feel safe when daring to think and do. This can be done through strong advocacy of the values ​​of innovation and risk-taking within the legal framework. Responsibility and risk need to be clearly defined, and it needs to be made clear that “dare to think, dare to do” does not mean arbitrarily, but rather acts with reason, based on research, data and legal processes.

In addition, it is necessary to build a legal protection mechanism and a clear exemption mechanism in the case of testing new technologies and business models. This must be specified by law or decree, avoiding the situation of "oral instructions." In addition, we can consider piloting and learning from practice in specific fields. For example, allowing businesses in the fields of financial technology (fintech), artificial intelligence, or renewable energy to test new models under close supervision. From there, draw lessons for replication. We can also measure and publish results because the results of the tests, both successful and failed, need to be widely published to be transparent and build trust. Along with that, it is necessary to reward and protect pioneers appropriately. Individuals and organizations that dare to innovate and achieve good results need to be honored and publicly rewarded to create motivation and send positive messages to the whole society. But on the other hand, we also need clear sanctions to prevent abuse and strictly handle acts of taking advantage of innovation policies for personal gain or violating the law. Strengthening the State's supervisory capacity; training managers and staff with in-depth knowledge of technology and innovation; learning from international experience... are also things we need to consider. Many countries have been successful with mechanisms such as sandboxes (testing frameworks), allowing businesses to experiment in a controlled environment before deploying on a large scale. Vietnam can refer to these models from Singapore, the UK, or Sweden. To develop science and technology, first of all, we need qualified human resources. According to you, what specific policies are needed to attract and utilize high-quality human resources? - To attract and utilize high-quality human resources to serve the development of science and technology, we need specific and practical policies. First of all, it is necessary to have competitive remuneration policies such as salary increases, bonuses and benefits (housing, personal income tax exemptions and other living allowances, etc.). Ensuring competitive salaries and benefits with the private and international sectors will help employees feel secure in their contributions. Next, it is necessary to create an attractive working environment with investment in synchronous infrastructure; build modern laboratories, and provide state-of-the-art equipment so that scientists can maximize their capacity. Encouraging creative thinking, ensuring freedom of research within the legal framework, and minimizing cumbersome administrative procedures, etc. are also policies that need to be considered.

Having an attractive working environment, we need policies to support personal capacity development such as funding scholarships, supporting overseas research programs, and promoting cooperation with international scientific organizations; connecting scientists with businesses and markets to apply technology to production, creating economic value. Recognition and honor policies need to be built by recognizing and rewarding them appropriately; honoring outstanding scientists; organizing national awards and titles and creating communication conditions to enhance the social status of scientists. In the long term, we need to create motivation through intellectual property policies, ensuring the rights of scientists through intellectual property protection and sharing benefits from technology applications. We can also support startups by creating a favorable environment for scientists to start businesses, providing capital and professional advice. These policies not only help attract high-quality human resources but also retain them and motivate them to contribute long-term to the country's scientific and technological development.

Content: Hoai Thu

Design: Thuy Tien

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/tan-dung-tot-co-hoi-viet-nam-se-vuon-len-manh-me-tren-ban-do-cong-nghe-20250102204626585.htm